Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Nampa leads 18 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Pomona
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($289,400 vs $524,700)
51% less violent crime than Pomona
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,631)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.0%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Pomona by $6,169/yr
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Households earn $6,169 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Higher rents — median is $1,631/mo
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Nampa
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
51% lower
353.1 vs 715.9 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$235k less
$289,400 vs $524,700
Nampa
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.0% vs 6.5% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 90.3°F
Pomona
Median Income
$6,169
$73,515 vs $67,346/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $73,515 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 14.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 149,831 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 18 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 18 and Pomona wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Nampa to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $524,700 median home), income ($67,346 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Pomona, CA are about 661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.